A Bridal Measure
A heartfelt wedding poem celebrating love, joy, nature, and life's unity.
Updated March 2, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Love is one of life’s greatest joys, and a wedding is a beautiful celebration of two hearts coming together as one. In Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem A Bridal Measure, he captures the harmony of love, nature, and the joy of union. Through the imagery of springtime renewal and the music of life, the poem reminds us that love is meant to be cherished and celebrated. Whether you're looking for words to inspire a bride, add to a wedding card, or reflect on the beauty of love, this poem offers a timeless message of happiness and hope.
A Bridal Measure
Come, essay a sprightly measure,
Tuned to some light song of pleasure.
Maidens, let your brows be crowned
As we foot this merry round.
From the ground a voice is singing,
From the sod a soul is springing.
Who shall say ‘t is but a clod
Quick’ning upward toward its God?
Who shall say it? Who may know it,
That the clod is not a poet
Waiting but a gleam to waken
In a spirit music–shaken?
Phyllis, Phyllis, why be waiting?
In the woods the birds are mating.
From the tree beside the wall,
Hear the am’rous robin call.
Listen to yon thrush’s trilling;
Phyllis, Phyllis, are you willing,
When love speaks from cave and tree,
Only we should silent be?
When the year, itself renewing,
All the world with flowers is strewing,
Then through Youth’s Arcadian land,
Love and song go hand in hand.
Come, unfold your vocal treasure,
Sing with me a nuptial measure,
Let this springtime gambol be
Bridal dance for you and me.
Key Messages in the poem:
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Celebrate Love and Joy
This poem beautifully reminds us that love is meant to be celebrated with joy and happiness. Just as the poem calls for a "nuptial measure," it invites us to embrace the beauty of love and the simple pleasures of life.
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Unlock Your Potential
Dunbar shows us that even the smallest things, like a clod of earth, hold potential for greatness. It’s a powerful message about how inspiration, love, and the right moments can awaken creativity and purpose in all of us.
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Nature Mirrors Love’s Beauty
The poem paints a vivid picture of how love and nature go hand in hand. With birds singing, flowers blooming, and spring renewing the earth, it encourages us to recognize that love is a natural and beautiful part of life, just waiting to be embraced.
Popular Pages:
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Conclusion
A Bridal Measure reminds us that love is not meant to be held back. It is meant to be spoken, celebrated, and shared with joy. Like spring bringing new life to the world, love brings hope and happiness to our days. May this poem encourage you to enjoy the gift of love and to treasure the one you are walking life with.
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